Based on their popular blog, Oh, Sweet Basil, a husband-and-wife team present a debut cookbook in which, blending Southern cuisine with the flavor palette of the Pacific Northwest, they present a vast array of food mash-ups, including Chicken Cordon Bleu Lasagna, BBQ Pulled Pork Tacos and Roasted Red Pepper Mac ‘n Cheese. 20,000 first printing.

Who better to go to for advice on fun yet easy parties than the Barefoot Contessa herself, Ian Garten? In this breezy cookbook full of color photos, she offers hosting advice ("a good party is not about the food, it's about the people") and promotes a relaxed style of cooking while offering a wide array of themes (pizza party, afternoon tea, autumn dinner, etc.) and seasonal recipes for each (such as California pizzas, ice-cream sodas, and tea sandwiches). This book was published over a decade ago, but its easy-going attitude, tips, and recipes will always be appreciated. Looking for her latest? Cooking for Jeffrey came out last year.

Weighty and imposing, this handsome volume exudes authority -- as well it should, considering that Manhattan bar Death & Co is a world-renowned leader in the craft cocktail movement. Adventurous mixologists will find advice for stocking a home bar (right down the best kind of ice), as well as recipes for over 450 innovative cocktails with names that are just as intriguing as the drinks themselves, such as Stolen Huffy and Velvet Warhol. "Sophisticated and inviting" (Library Journal), Death & Co will inspire beginning bartenders and pros alike.

This massively popular little book offers a thoughtful guide to decluttering and organizing your living space. With a bit of New Age philosophy (such as verbally thanking the objects you remove) and a lot of no-nonsense advice, expert Marie Kondo shows you what to do and explains the impact that an organized home can have on your life. No time to go full-on before your guests arrive? Do what you can now and then spend time in January working your way through the process.

Maybe you're a pro at decluttering, making drinks, and hosting parties; what else can you do to prepare for visitors? Liven things up with unusual houseplants! Forget ficus trees and Boston ferns, and try out conifers, fruit trees, and carnivorous plants, as well as more familiar favorites. With detailed information on each plant's flower, foliage, and cultivation needs, this beautifully photographed book also offers helpful troubleshooting tips.